Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-13
= Serial Storg.
RETRIBUTI
BY "THE DUCHESS"

BY "THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER XVIII.
ss1yheres'' exclaims Millicent, as much
taken aback as even Lady Valworth can
desire.
Ground Madness neck"
ssOh, you must have been mistakenl
How could Nadine have diamond cross
of such value!''
s'How. indeed! She said she had been
given it by that man to whom she Is en-
gageil-Paul Annerley."
"a city clerk! Impossible! Dearest
aunt, You may be sure you have made
mistake. These French jewelries are. so
good nowadays. They copy so exsetly
tho fine old designs that one Is easily de-
ceived when brought face to face with
thcm''
..No; I am not deceived" says Lady
Valworth. Her tone is that Of one who Is
sure Of her argument. 1t is, indeed, SO
strong, so unlike the usually vacillating
Lady Valworth, that Millicent is struck
byit. ut il my cross-the one belonging
to the diamond set Sir Thomas gave me
on my marriage, that Is hanging around
her neck"
..But how could Nadine''-
ssIf you doubt It, :" said Lady Valworth,
with sudden vehemence, "let me have an
authority to prove that what I say is
right. Call Sir Thomas He is over
there. Ask him." 'Dear Lady VAL
worth, but you know you would not like
to distress Miss Roche" puts in Gerald
Massareene who has been perforce a list
ener to the disclosure and who now feels
he must take prominent part in the dis
eussion.
He is amply rewarded for his interfer-
ence by an eloquent look from Millicent.
"True-truer says Lady Valworth
signing. 81 shall not speak to Sir
his attention to 1t. Good heevens1 Milli-
cent this may mean the recovery of the
whole set."
Hardly think. These matters drift:
BY piecemeal they enter the windows Of
respectable Jewellers, and all the research
in the world will not bring to light the
real offenders"
"still, it gives hope. I shall examine
NaQlue, anu
ssNot now-not until tomorrow night
has gone over our heads!" entreats Milli-
cent, eagerly, willing to spare Nadine a
shock "Why would you make unhappy
q guest in your house on the very eve OF
Grants birthnight ballr'
This Is the very argument Of oil others
to gain over Lady Valworth to her way Of
thinking.
Eyes. All should go smoothly for
Grant," says Grants mother thought
fully. "And Nadine-she-she may not
be to blame"
"May nots" Milncent's eyes grow dark
with indignant reproach. "What can
you mean by such speech as that?
Nadinel DO You for one instant believe
that she has had any part in this strange
story Of which you speak'"
my dear child, would not hurt you
in any way, as you well know-not even
through another. And as for Nadine,
you can see yourself how highly esteem
her"
"Highly indeed, when you can hint at
scandal in connection with her."
~ have limited at nothing. ] confess
am horribly distressed at seeing my
own cross round another's neck. DO you
blame me l0r Chdt!'
In her distress at having brough down
the anger Of her sons fiancec upon her
head, and her agitation at seeing again o
portion of her lost diamonds, poor Lady
Valworth is reduced to the very verge of
despair.
BE reasonable, Millicent. At least,
grant me justice. have said nothing to
Nadine. Why should I, when deem her
innocent? Yet the connecting link be-
tween me and the robber Of my diamonds
lies with her."
"Iwill not have her connected with this
affair in any way" cries Millicent, hotly,
tears in her eyes. ''In seeking for your
missing link, you will incrminate her,
and terrify her and make her wretched.
And she has had nothing to do with it.
Has she."
She turns almost dehantly upon Massa-
reene, who up to this has been silent.
''Do you think she has.''
"a thousand times no" declares he
gently. "Miss Roche and deceit Of any
kind seem to me as far apart rs tho poles.
1t stands to reason, too, that if She had
known anything of the lost diamonds, she
would hardly have worn them here"
He is so earnest, so eager in his speech,
that Millicent, with her eyes full of tears,
lays her hand on his. This net rcpays
him for many things, and makes him
trebly Madness friend. And his argu-
ment, too goes home to Lady Valworth,
80 that two causes are gained. If the
latter had ever permitted herself to have
any doubts, they now vanish into moth
ingness, and only Madness pale, pure face
rises before her. On such face no guilt
could lie!
''My dear, meant nothing
80 far as Nadine Is concerned?' she cries
In agitation; "but of course, it is only
natural that should desire the return of
my Giamonds-Sir Thomas diamonds. If
Nadine can help me to solution Of this
difficulty, I shall forever hold her in my
debt"
"Who gave this cross to herr" asks
Millicent suddenly, If little coldly.
"The man to whom she is engaged.
Paul Annerley she called him. The man
she is going to marry"
"You present him to me in the light OF
either dupe or swindler."
IA dupe, most probably. He may,
however, be Of use to us in the discovery
Of the missing stones"
''It will distress Nadine very much to
have her lover accused Of being an out
slider in this affair"
II do not see that" says Massareene,
quickly, who is as honest as he is fulfilled
Of love. "If he can lead justic to its ends,
why should he not be used? Miss Roche,
am sure, would be the very last to pre-
vent that; and so, when you come to think
of it''-looking at Millicent-'would
you"
"Well-perhaps. But Nadine must not
be teased now. Not tonight. To-mor-
row night perhaps, when the ball is over
but not before"
GAS you WILL" says Lady Valworth,
with a sigh.
She would have liked to speak with
Nadine now ut once. "Is ita conspiracy?'
asks Duran, coming up at this moment
and touching Lady Valworth lightly on
the arm. 'You Ill look SO solemn-even
Miss Grey, who, as rule, is gay as spring
time"
"Oh" exclaims Miliicent; cit IS this
curious affair."" she goes on; "auntie
imagines she has seen tonight some OF
her lost diamonds. And where do You
think!'
''In the servants hall." suggests he,
laughing.
'No. Here. In this very room, worn
by one of her guests"
"lmpoSsible!" Something in her tone
removes the smile from Duran's lips He